A Sucker's Punch

Hah, the sucker-punch heard 'round the world! If you thought boxing wasn't already in the toilet, imagine a stuffed toilet overflowing onto the floor. Or worse, a stuffed pay-toilet overflowing into your living room! Hopefully, like me, you've stopped paying for any Floyd Mayweather fight that isn't verses Pacquiao.

(Yeah-yeah, Manny won't take the drug test...baloney! Manny Pacquiao agreed to three separate drug tests, one before the fight, one after the fight, and one anytime Mayweather's people wanted Manny to take one, so then Floyd decided he wanted Manny to take five drug tests. Huh? Mayweather's not serious, and Manny's people are smart enough to know he's only playing games. Let us know when you're serious Floyd.)

But this fight makes a gas station urinal look like a drinking fountain.

1. First, Ortiz attempts to intentionally head butt Mayweather twice before he finally lands the third head-butt right on Floyd's kisser.
2. Joe Cortez, the referee, fails to spot the infractions and take a point away from Ortiz for the two deliberate-head-butts prior to the final infraction. (There's no warning for an intentional head-butt, rather an immediate point deduction.)
   
3. Then, while Ortiz is apologizing to Mayweather, Mayweather sucker-punches Ortiz in a cowardly and unprofessional manner -- as he first pretends to hug Ortiz.
   

If you paid for this one...heh-heh, then Mayweather sucker-punched you TOO!

Recap: James Toney vs. Sam Peter

With four first names between two guys, the headliner bout sounded like four guys were fighting in the main event. When the night was over, it was about as exciting as watching four guys fight!

The Mighty-Moe personally watched this bout unfold at the Los Angeles Staples Center. When I came back home, I watched it again on Showtime just to hear what the commentary was like. Ooh, whadda scrap! The only mar on this beautiful event was the ugly decision.

Sitting ringside, the consensus was that James “Lights Out” Toney clearly won the fight. At the end of the event, it was Toney’s name that the crowd was cheering.

Having said that, when I watched the televised version of the same event and came away with the same conclusion -- with the exception that I attempted to score the fight while sitting infront of my TV.

Attempting to give Peter the benefit of the doubt, I scored the fight five rounds a piece with two rounds even. The two rounds I scored even I would have scored for Toney, but since Peter was active, I scored them even. With that, lets say the judges gave those two rounds to Peter, with the one point deduction for rabbit punching to the back of Toney’s head, that means that Peter walks away with a one point margin on the decision.

The scores on two of the judge’s scorecards were 111-116 for Peter. That means they only gave Toney three rounds in the entire fight. This is not only a travesty of boxing, but it’s death Nell. Boxing cannot survive decisions like this.

The Might-Moe can always tell a bought-off judge because they come in pairs. You see: you don’t have to buy all three judges, only two. When the decision read, 111-116 for Peter, then 115-112 for Toney, I knew the fix was in. 115-112 for Toney was the more accurate score for the fight. However, a reasonable person could differ a couple points in either direction – and that would be acceptable – but NOT 116-111 for Peter. Absurd...even the two judges in agreement couldn’t agree on the same rounds for Toney!

I understand the argument for Peter’s victory is that he landed the harder shots. And, yes, while Peter hurt Toney on three occasions, Toney never hurt Peter. But that doesn’t automatically create a victory for Peter. Toney never went down, and was controlling those rounds up until the time he was rocked. And, afterwards, Toney regained control of the fight.

It was clear, the better fighter schooled Sam Peter; James Toney landed the cleaner punches, landed more punches, and controlled the majority of the tempo for the fight.

If it was merely a contest of strength, then have the two athletes bench press and be done with it. Winner takes all.

As for the evening, the Mighty-Moe was able mingle with the glitteratti, and shake hands with Nicolai Valuev, Don King and Lou Duva.

Pacquiao vs. Larios

This weekend, Manny Pacquiao (41-3-2 and 32 KOs) faces Oscar Larios (56-4-1 and 36 KOs) in a battle of Super Featherweights (130 lbs).

The Pac-man Pacquiao has KOed two P4P future Mexican Hall of Famers, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales to win the top spot. Although Manny Pacquiao doesn't hold a Super Featherweight title, he is recognized as the top 130 pound fighter by Fightnews.com.

Both fighters have recently moved up to Super Featherweights, with Larios being the most recent. This gives Pacquiao the advantage...having had more time to aclimate to the weight.

Overall, this should be an interesting match-up. The Mexican Oscar (El Chololo) Larios is a very tall fighter with long arms, but gives up his height and reach to land a barrage of punches. Larios has a non-stop action style of fighting, but doesn't punch as hard or as fast as the Philippine sensation Pacquiao. If Manny punches with him, he's going to connect first because Oscar punches with slower, wide looping punches.

But, here's the hitch...Oscar doesn't stop punching! He has an amazing endurance that should be the interesting factor to watch. If it's true that Pacquiao hasn't been taking his training seriously for this bout with Larios and starts to fade late in the fight, Oscar will take the fight right out of him and win by a late round KO.

My guess, Pacquiao's hand speed and power won't let Larios into the later rounds. If Larios starts punching wide too soon, he could get busted up early and have the fight stopped by TKO. I don't see Larios taking the "Nestea Plunge," but I could see a TKO for Pacquiao by the eighth.

Regardless, this bout will provide lots of fireworks and will be well worth the PPV.

This is a PPV event. July, 1 at 9PM ET/6PM ET

Oscar de la Hoya vs. Ricardo Mayorga

This Saturday Night, May 6, Oscar de la Hoya (37-4/29kos) will battle with Nicaraguan toughman Ricardo Mayorga (28-5/23) in a WBC super welterweight (154 pound limit) championship bout.

This is an interesting match up because the outcome depends on which de la Hoya shows up to fight. Oscar should win handily with his skill and speed, but Oscar doesn’t always use his skill and his speed in the boxing ring.

Ricardo Maryorga is a very rough and tumble fighter, and he knows that fighting an intelligent Oscar doesn’t bode well for his chances. So, his strategy...to get under Oscar’s skin and hope Oscar takes the bait. If he does, Oscar will want to trade punches with the wild punching Mayorga.

After his skilled boxing victory over Julio Caesar Chavez, the Golden Boy Oscar was goaded into a slugfest in their second fight after Chavez questioned his manliness. After a sensation boxing exposition of skill and speed over Felix Trinidad, of which Oscar was robbed and criticized for being overly tactical, Oscar showed up for his next fight against Shane Mosely as a plodding slugger and was out-boxed and out-hustled. After another tactical fight with Mosley in which Oscar was robbed once again, the plodding Oscar returned once again in his next fight and slugged out a close decision victory against a full fledged Middleweight champion Felix Sturum.

Logically, Oscar should win this fight handily. But if Mayorga really did get under Oscar’s skin during the press events leading up to this fight, Oscar may opt to trade punches with Mayorga. For the toughman from Nicaragua, this would be his best chance to land a haymaker.

Note:

The way the Mighty Moe sees it, Fernando Vargas is a much bigger, stronger and better boxer than Ricardo Mayorga, and was given a sound beating by the Golden Boy.

Mayweather vs. Judah

This coming Saturday (April 8, 2006), in a PPV event, Floyd Mayweather 35-0 (24 KOs) will face IBF champ Zab Judah 34-3 (25 KOs) for Judah's Welterweight title in the Roman Plaza at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Why this fight is a title fight is beyond me. Zab Judah was beaten fairly and squarely by aging Argentine journeyman Carlos Baldomir in his last fight, but because of technicalities (wink-wink-nudge-nudge), Judah was able to keep his title. What a surprise … and now the big PPV event in a super-fight with Floyd Mayweather.

This is an easy pick for the crusty Mighty Moe. Judah, at best is a journeyman with a big punch, while Floyd Mayweather is -- no doubt -- a future Hall Of Famer. Floyd should make quick work of Judah’s weak chin. I give Floyd a warm up round, and then he’ll stop Judah in the second in sensational fashion.

Judah has already proven that he has a weak chin, and worse yet, has poor recuperative abilities. Zab has fast hands, but unforutnately doesn’t punch in combinations. Look for Floyd to bait Judah, make him miss and make him pay. Zab also has a habit of dropping his hands when he backs out. He won’t be able to get away with that against Floyd Mayweather.

--The Mighty Moe

Johnny Tapia KOed!

On a sleepy Friday night, at the Avalon Ballroom in Chicago, a momentous occasion took place in the boxing world. Unheralded Featherweight Sandro Marcos (25-13-2, 21 KO's) stopped former world champion Johnny (55-5-2, 28 KO's) Tapia, with a thunderous left hook to the liver in Round Two. The punch left the former champ on all fours gasping for air and grimacing in pain. Before the count was even over, Johnny asked the referee to take his mouthpiece out. He was counted out for the first time in his career at 2:59 of the second round.

As one of boxing’s most exciting fighters of his era, Johnny (Mi Vida Loca) Tapia, is a four time World Champion, having won the WBO and the IBF Super Flyweight World Championships, and the WBA and WBO Bantamweight World Championships.

But his personal story is tumultuous saga that has earned him the tag line, “Mi Vida Loca” (my crazy life) that he carries emblazoned on his trunks. Despite his battle with drugs, three overdoses that left him clinically dead, jail time, being banned from the sport of boxing for three years, severe depression and a suicide attempt, boxing fans continue to love and support Johnny.

The reason fans love Johnny Tapia is because he always gives 100% in the ring. Despite the tumult in his life, Johnny Tapia is one of the most honest fighters in the business. “Honest” meaning Johnny gives himself completely in his effort to win. A controlled furry that is both courteous to his opponents, and fair-minded.

At the ripe age of 38, and a second round stoppage to an unheralded opponent, this may be the end of Johnny Tapia’s Hall of Fame career.

--The Mighty Moe

Barerra vs. Peden

It would be a safe bet to put your money on Marco Antonio Barrera ... not that Peden isn't a tough/game warrior, but the Mighty-Moe simply believes that Peden just doesn't have the , illusiveness, versatility, or the pressure to beat Barrera.

Let's look at Barrera's losses: Two losses to Junior Jones, who is a slick boxer that out-boxed and kept Barrera on the outside. One loss to Erik Morales, who is a terrific pressure fighter with tremendous power combined with versatility that allows him to punch from odd angles. Manny Pacquiao, who's left handed stance, blazing speed, punching power and pressure simply overwhelmed Barrera. Peden, on the other hand, can't be compared to any of these fighters.

Peden is not only a hard worker but he stays in shape, has a lot of stamina, and is also very durable. It will take a lot of punishment for Barrera to take Peden out.

Barrera doesn't have blazing handspeed, but he is one of the sports best counterpunchers. I expect Barrera to counter Peden and catch him coming in ... look for a late round stoppage by the referee or Peden's corner. There's no quitting in Peden, so the ref had better keep an eye on him.

This should be an entertaining bout, with Peden -- at times -- giving Barrera more than he can handle.

--The Mighty-Moe